{DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor nor can I provide you medical advice. These are things that help me personally, if you have medical concerns please see a medical professional}
The Hormonal Cycle
So today I want to focus on womanhood, and what that looks like. As someone who has been around primarily men, I did not know a lot of things about growing up a woman that are important to know. So if you were not overly educated about your cycles, hormonal patterns, or you just want to learn more about everything going on, I would like to discuss it.
So for starters, lets discuss the hormonal cycle. To compare and contrast a men's hormonal cycle is 24 hours, a woman's is usually around 28 days (this can differ woman to woman, but for the sake of this post lets do 28 days). So the female hormonal cycle starts with menstruation, or better know as, having your period. During your period you may feel cramping, discomfort, and your emotions may be over the place. This is normal for this phase, and it is just important to monitor how you feel, and if anything is concerning you can discuss it with a healthcare professional.
The next phase in the female cycle is the follicular phase. This phase, in my personal opinion is my favorite. You feel productive, have lots of energy and be ready to take on lots of projects. During this week I would recommend getting around to all those things that you have been procrastinating, because this will be the best you feel to get it done. This is the phase to clean out your fridge, organize you closet, clean your room, basically get all your annoying tasks done. You will probably feel more confident and excited to do things. This is kinda the New Years resolution of phases because you get so excited to schedule all of these things for yourself, and you have the productivity to get things done.
The third phase would be ovulation. This is the phase in your period where you are most likely to get pregnant. You will probably feel very good about yourself, you confidence will be very high. This is the prime time to go on dates, have fun, and participate in the activities that you want to feel very confident during.
The last phase of your hormonal cycle would be the luteal phase. The luteal phase in my personal opinion is the worst week on the month. You feel fatigued, tired, and just overall unproductive - or at least I do. I personally would argue that this phase is worse than my period in the emotions department just because of the overwhelming dread to do anything that feels all encompassing during this week.
How To Listen to Your Body's Needs
Throughout these phases it is important to listen to your body, and what it needs. When your hormones are all over the place it deeply impacts how you function throughout your day-to-day. Unbalanced hormones can cause fatigue, acne, and aches throughout your body. When you recognize these issues, there are some creative ways you can help yourself out at home!
So to first get started, tune into what your body is telling you. Are you tired? Fatigued? Bloated? Hungry? Listen for what your body wants so you can make an effective game plan at how to help it.
A big and obvious way to take care of your body is through food and nutrition. One of the best pieces of advice I have been given for a healthy diet is to start your day with lots of vegetables. Spinach, kale, mushrooms, bell peppers, are all great options to throw into a meal. This adds lots of nutrition while keeping you full and happy! There are also certain foods that are better for the phases of your cycle you are going through. It is a good idea to meal prep, or grocery shop before each phase to ensure you are eating the best food for you every phase of your cycle. This is because there are foods that help counteract the negative aspects of your hormonal cycle while you are in them.
The Cycle's Grocery List
During your menstrual cycle you are going to want to stock up on iron-rich foods. There are many great and yummy options that can create a nice dish during this rough week. For some protein options fish is one of the best meats to eat. I personally recommend tuna or salmon. You also want to make sure you have some healthy fats included in your diet as well. Avocados are my personal favorite fat to add to different meals. But there are many other ingredients to get this nutrient in. Make sure to stock up on leafy greens for iron and dark chocolate to satisfy sweet treat cravings. Make sure to listen to your body and take care of your nutritional needs during your cycle!
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